Cognitive Stimulation Therapy: Experts from MSUPE Discussed the Pilot Program for People with Normative Aging at Co-Authorial Reading

On October 5, a meeting of the reader's club "Co-Authorial Reading" from the cycle "Science in MSUPE Publications" took place. The meeting was dedicated to discussing a pilot study on the application of cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) in people over 60 without dementia. About 100 people from 32 regions of Russia registered for the meeting.

The authors of the study participated in the discussion:

• Anna Alexandrovna Shvedovskaya, Candidate of Psychological Sciences, Head of the Department of Information and Publishing Projects, Associate Professor at the Department of Developmental Psychology named after L.F. Obukhova, Faculty of Educational Psychology, MSUPE; Deputy Head for Scientific Work of the Scientific and Practical Center for Gerontopsychology.
• Marina Vitalievna Kalantarova, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Neuro- and Pathopsychology of Development, Faculty of Clinical and Special Psychology, MSUPE; Senior Medical Psychologist at the N.V. Sklifosovsky Research Institute for Emergency Medicine.
• Alexey Andreevich Korneev, Candidate of Psychological Sciences, Senior Researcher at the Laboratory of Neuropsychology, Faculty of Psychology, Lomonosov Moscow State University.

Anna Alexandrovna spoke about the fact that CST is a group non-pharmacological intervention aimed at stimulating cognitive functions in a social environment. This approach is based on the biopsychosocial model and combines multisensory stimulation, cognitive activity, communication, and personal meaning. CST is not reduced to performing memory or attention exercises. It is group work in which cognitive activity is supported through communication, discussion, emotional involvement, and solving tasks related to real life. CST was originally created as an intervention for people with dementia and mild cognitive decline. However, the authors of the study posed the question: can this comprehensive approach with proven effectiveness be useful for people with normative aging who do not have diagnosed cognitive impairments but want to maintain intellectual activity, interest in life, and social connections?

Marina Vitalievna spoke in more detail about the principles of building the CST program. She emphasized that at the center of the program is not an abstract function that needs to be "trained", but the person — their interests, experience, and involvement in what is happening.

Alexey Andreevich presented in detail the results of the pilot study, in which people aged 59 to 81 participated.

After each session, participants rated its interest, satisfaction, mood, and quality of interaction. In most cases, the ratings were high. After the first session, some more reserved ratings were observed, but then participants engaged in the work and demonstrated a high level of satisfaction with the program.

The authors noted that the group atmosphere, joint discussion, humour, and shared tea parties contributed to building trust among participants.

Based on the results of preliminary and final testing, positive trends were noted in certain cognitive indicators, in particular in the sphere of associative and verbal reactions. It was precisely these functions that were actively engaged during the sessions.

The most stable result was the improvement of indicators related to the mental component of health and quality of life. At the same time, no noticeable changes were found in the physical component of health, which is natural — the program is aimed primarily at the cognitive and emotional spheres and social activity, rather than at correcting somatic condition.

The speakers answered a number of questions asked by participants before the meeting. In particular, the possibility of using CST in working with older people with mental characteristics was discussed in detail. The authors cited the results of studies on group and individual variants of CST application in working with people with premorbid intellectual disability.

Also, the connection between physical activity and cognitive health was discussed. Marina Vitalievna noted that numerous studies confirm a positive connection between movement and cognitive activity, attention, mood, and overall well-being. Therefore, even in a program focused on cognitive stimulation, it is important to create opportunities for movement. Participants are invited to stand up, walk, pass an object, or perform an action simultaneously with solving an intellectual task.

At the conclusion of the meeting, participants discussed the possibility of expanding the project and invited colleagues to cooperate. A scientific and practical Center for Gerontopsychology is already operating at MSUPE, along with a professional development program for specialists in group cognitive stimulation therapy with opportunities for supervision and internships.

Publication on the meeting topic:

Shvedovskaya, A.A., Kalantarova, M.V., Korneev, A.A., Mullagalieva, Yu.I. (2026). Applicability of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy in Normative Aging: A Pilot Study. Clinical and Special Psychology, 15(3), 260–288. https://doi.org/10.17759/cpse.2026000001

The video recording of the meeting has been published: on VKontakte, in Dzen, and on Rutube.

Calendar of webinars and meetings of the "Science in Publications" project for 2026